[image: PHOTO: FILE]

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi is once again faced withpressure from the hawks in Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz to “openly comeout” in support of former premier Nawaz Sharif after the latter hasrejected declaration of National Security Committee (NSC) on his statementregarding the Mumbai attacks.

PM Abbasi has been asked by circles close to Sharif to convene aparliamentary party meeting in order to pass a unanimous resolution insupport of Sharif and to condemn that Sharif was “misquoted by Indian”regarding his statement on Mumbai attacks during a recent interview with anEnglish-language daily.

A government official, requesting anonymity, said the PM convening ameeting to extend unanimous support to the ex-premier— in backdrop of hisnewly found tiff with the state institutions—security establishment inparticular—would be tantamount to bringing the PM and the security brassface to face.

“The PM’s press conference (in support of Sharif earlier on Monday) hardlyleaves any room for convening an internal huddle like that of aparliamentary party. After Sharif has categorically rejected the NSCstatement, a party meeting to put weight behind him is something thatentails dangerous repercussions—escalating confrontation with stateinstitutions and that too when the federal government’s tenure is going toend in a few days—and with general elections around the corner—this issomething not unaffordable.”

Moreover, Sharif on Tuesday termed NSC declaration as ‘regrettable andpainful.’ PM Abbasi attended the National Assembly session the same daywhere he strongly supported Sharif.